Digital techniques / Electronic instrument systems

• Typical systems arrangements and cockpit layout of electronic instrument systems.

• Numbering systems: binary, octal and hexadecimal;
• Demonstration of conversions between the decimal and binary, octal and hexadecimal systems and vice versa.

• Analogue Data, Digital Data;
• Operation and application of analogue to digital, and digital to analogue converters, inputs and outputs, limitations of various types.

• Operation of data buses in aircraft systems, including knowledge of ARINC and other specifications.
• Aircraft Network/Ethernet.

• (A)
  • Identification of common logic gate symbols, tables and equivalent circuits;
  • Applications used for aircraft systems, schematic diagrams.
• (B)
  • Interpretation of logic diagrams.

• (A)
  • Computer terminology (including bit, byte, software, hardware, CPU, IC, and various memory devices such as RAM, ROM, PROM);
  • Computer technology (as applied in aircraft systems).
• (B)
  • Computer related terminology;
  • Operation, layout and interface of the major components in a micro computer including their associated bus systems;
  • Information contained in single and multiaddress instruction words;
  • Memory associated terms;
  • Operation of typical memory devices;
  • Operation, advantages and disadvantages of the various data storage systems.

• Functions performed and overall operation of a microprocessor;
• Basic operation of each of the following microprocessor elements: control and processing unit, clock, register, arithmetic logic unit.

• Operation and use of encoders and decoders;
• Function of encoder types;
• Uses of medium, large and very large scale integration.

• Operation, application and identification in logic diagrams of multiplexers and demultiplexers.

• Advantages and disadvantages of fibre optic data transmission over electrical wire propagation;
• Fibre optic data bus;
• Fibre optic related terms;
• Terminations;
• Couplers, control terminals, remote terminals;
• Application of fibre optics in aircraft systems.

• Principles of operation of common types of displays used in modern aircraft, including Cathode Ray Tubes, Light
• Emitting Diodes and Liquid Crystal Display.

• Special handling of components sensitive to electrostatic discharges;
• Awareness of risks and possible damage, component and personnel anti-static protection devices.

• Awareness of restrictions, airworthiness requirements and possible catastrophic effects of unapproved changes to software programmes.

• Influence of the following phenomena on maintenance practices for electronic system:
  • EMC-Electromagnetic Compatibility
  • EMI-Electromagnetic Interference
  • HIRF-High Intensity Radiated Field Lightning/lightning protection.

General arrangement of typical electronic/digital aircraft systems and associated BITE (Built In Test Equipment) such as:

• (A) For B1 and B2 only:
  • ACARS-ARINC Communication and Addressing and Reporting System
  • EICAS-Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System
  • FBW-Fly-by-Wire
  • FMS-Flight Management System
  • IRS-Inertial Reference System;
• (B) For B1, B2 and B3:
  • ECAM-Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitoring
  • EFIS-Electronic Flight Instrument System
  • GPS-Global Positioning System
  • TCAS-Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System
  • Integrated Modular Avionics
  • Cabin Systems
  • Information Systems.